CHAPMAN, Alfred


No.17756, Private, Alfred CHAPMAN
Aged 21


9th Battalion,Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Wednesday, 8th March 1916


Alfred Chapman was born in 1894 (Risbridge Q3-1894 4A:681), baptised in Stradishall, St Margaret's on 7th October 1894, son of Ezekiel and Caroline CHAPMAN (née SCRIVENER).

1901 census... Aged 6, he was at Cotterell's Farm, The Street, Stradishall with his father Ezekiel CHAPMAN [49] farm labourer; his mother Carry [48] born Hundon; sister Maud [16]; brothers George [13] farm labourer and Harry [10]. All except his mother were born in Stradishall.

1911 census... Aged 17, he was still at Cotterell's with his parents and brothers George and Harry. All the men were of course farm labourers. One of 7 siblings had died.

His brother George was killed in 1916 in Belgium serving in the Suffolk Regiment. see here
and his brother Harry was killed in 1918 in France serving in the Cameronians. see here
From their Suffolk Regiment numbers the three brothers appear to have enlisted the same day in the 9th Battalion, with Harry being later transferred to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)


He enlisted in Newmarket. Somehow he managed to arrive in France/Belgium later than his brothers as he was not awarded the 1914-1915 Star
Dying of his wounds we cannot be sure exactly when or where he was wounded. The 9th Suffolks had been resting at the end of February in Poperinghe, and returned to the trenches (D Coy and a platoon each of B and C Coy to the north of Poperinghe and the rest were just north of Bailleul) on 2nd March, having one wounded on the 6th and 11 wounded on the 7th. Lijssenthoek being where he died, it is more likely he was in the southern party near Bailleul.



photo: Rodney Gibson



Alfred Chapman is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, grave 5:B:10A

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


BACK to Stradishall home page